Escape From Iraq: A Muslim Family Finds Solace In Ramadan

On a visit to Yemen, Sarah Shourd is invited to an enlightening dinner with an Iraqi family.

It’s a few minutes before 6 and the light in the port-city of Aden in South Yemen is beginning to fade.

As the sun sinks behind jagged cliffs the city takes a deep, full-bodied breath. Its mouth opens wide, its lips stretch thin and like a great, harmless beast it sucks all the people into its warm, concrete belly.

In seconds the streets are empty. Steel-doors are bolted shut, soccer games cut short and kites quickly pulled from the sky. Women disappear into their homes and men duck into small, crowded restaurants.

No dark clouds mar the gray sky; no sound of thunder threatens in the distance.

The population of Aden is driven indoors by the sound of dozens upon dozens of loudspeakers. Mosques scattered across the city’s face erupt into a kind of song that is not music or chant, not beautiful or ugly but awesome and commanding.

From my birds-eye perch 500 feet up on the backbone of an extinct volcano the locals call Crater, the sound is deafening. It ricochets off Crater’s walls and collides in my inner-ear like a great, booming storm, “God is great, God is great. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah.”

It is the evening call to prayer.

The Power Of Faith

It’s Ramadan, the 8th month of the Islamic Calendar, Muslims all over the world are demonstrating the power of their faith by exercising restraint.

Aden is like an Arab version of Coney Island: A city by the sea that never sleeps, awash with spectacle and surprise.

In Aden people are taking their first sip of cool water since dawn. They are enjoying special treats like breaded balls of soft potato, creamy pudding, crispy meat-filled samosas and soft, sugary dates.

Muslims not only consume nothing during daylight hours for one month, they also do their best to resist illicit thoughts and behavior, read the entire Koran and act generously toward those who have less.

When the voices start up again, “Hasten to prayer, hasten to prayer,” women clear the cups and plates and lay out their prayer rugs.

Men wipe the crumbs from their lips, rinse the grease from their hands and head for the mosques.

City By The Sea

Aden is like an Arab version of Coney Island: A city by the sea that never sleeps, awash with spectacle and surprise.

During Ramadan it is common to shorten the fast by staying up late; in Aden the typical bedtime is 4am. All night people squat around platters of food, boys play pool in the street and half-naked old men pose like cats on small squares of cardboard.

I meet Nada while traveling on a bus on the first day of Ramadan. As we traverse a rocky, green landscape the passengers begin to arrange food on the small, plastic tables attached to the chairs in front of them.

When the sun is no longer visible behind low cliffs, a dispute breaks out when two passengers start eating and others say it’s too early. Someone yells to the driver to turn on the radio and all doubt is assuaged when the call to prayer comes crackling over the airwaves.

Everyone hands around a little of what they’ve brought, a disproportionate amount being heaped on us. The bus is soon alive with chatter and shouts of, “Ramadan!” and “God is generous.”

A middle-aged woman in front of us turns to my friend and asks him about the book he is reading. It’s called, “The Shia Revival.” She wants to know why an American is reading this book.

“You have questions about Shia?” she asks, “I can tell you the real story of the Shia.”

Escape From Iraq

Nada is an Iraqi engineer who moved to Yemen 7 years ago with her husband and two sons to escape Saddam, who openly despised the Shia sect.

They left behind a house they were slowly building on the banks of the Euphrates in the center of Baghdad. Saddam feared that as the Shia majority might someday overthrow him and his Sunni-dominated government, so he robbed them of political power and killed them by the thousands.

Saddam feared that as the Shia majority might someday overthrow him, so he robbed them of political power and killed them by the thousands.

They had to leave Iraq, Nada explained, but little did they know it would soon become far more dangerous and that their family home would be blocks away from the Green Zone.

“Come to my house tomorrow,” she says, “8 o’clock.”

There are 12 identical unmarked apartment buildings lined up on Nada’s block. A kid helps figure out which one is number 10. When we knock on her door the urgency in her voice pulls us inside:

“How did you know the building?” she asks.

“You told us number 10, we asked a boy in the street.”

“Which boy?” she shoots back.

“Just a boy!”

She has reason to be uneasy around Americans. She later confides that her son yelled at her that afternoon, “The Americans occupy our country and now you invite them to our house!”

They guide us into their living room where we sit and watch while she and her sons bring out plate after plate of Ramadan treats.

Shortly after we begin eating the conversation turns to the war. They explain that since the Occupation, they and their Sunni neighbors have been pitted against each other. This bitterness didn’t exist under Saddam; now Iraqis are killing other Iraqis for the first time.

“It’s Not Your Fault”

They went back to Baghdad to visit family in 2005. Her youngest son, Riyad, was seized by American soldiers during a raid. They held a gun to his head and threatened to kill him.

Somehow they were able to get him out alive but his family is still very protective of him. He is the only one in the room who doesn’t speak English and is exceedingly jealous that his handsome older brother is getting more air-time.

Nada pleads with me to try and speak Arabic with him and I somehow get out a few, hard-earned sentences.

At that very moment, amidst all the commotion, it dawns on me that this is my first time sitting around a table with Iraqi people. I tell them that everyday I feel ashamed at what my country has done to their country.

“It’s not your fault,” they say graciously, “we know your government doesn’t listen,” but then a silence falls that none of us can resist, each steeped in our own thoughts.

But Riyad can’t bare the somber mood for long. He’s soon clowning around, quizzing us on American pop-culture. He teases us because we don’t know the name of the recent American Olympic multiple-Gold-Star Medalist, Michael Phelps.

“You probably haven’t even seen his picture,” he laughs at us, shaking a sports magazine in front of us. “Tell me the truth, have you seen his picture?”

I’ll Come Back to Yemen

The white, sandy beaches just outside of Aden are colonized by thousands of crabs. Transparent and swift, they weave and dance along the calm, blue coast.

From war-torn Iraq to the hot, languid streets of Aden, people are keeping the same traditions alive.

The next morning I wake up to the sound of the sunrise prayer blasting through my window. I step out onto the balcony and see dozens of men walking almost single-file towards the mosque.

Breathing in the quiet beauty of dusty streets and turquoise-domed mosques, I picture similar scenes replicated all over the world: sunrise over empty streets, loudspeakers blaring the call to prayer, men trickling into the mosque.

Ramadan knits countless communities into a tight fabric; communities that would otherwise have little else in common. From war-torn Iraq to the hot, languid streets of Aden, people are keeping the same traditions alive.

I watch the men emerge from the mosque and head home to sleep, then I turn my back to the sun. A new day of Ramadan has begun.

Wondering how Sarah, a woman that wrote above– “At that very moment, amidst all the commotion, it dawns on me that this is my first time sitting around a table with Iraqi people. I tell them that everyday I feel ashamed at what my country has done to their country.”–is feeling about being American today?

Wayne Taylor

Why don’t you move to the middle east then. Where is you writing so that I may read your poetry?

http://www.huevosalamexicana.com Sarah

Are you suggesting that she would somehow regret having said that, or she would no longer feel ashamed about what the U.S has done in Iraq, because she is in trouble in Iran? Or that she’s suddenly proud or eager to be an American now that she’s run into trouble?

First of all, Iraq and Iran are different countries, so your point about her feeling guilty about her nation’s actions in Iraq is somewhat irrelevant. Secondly, I would imagine that Sarah has the capacity to distinguish between a country’s government and it’s people, and that she doesn’t think along such simplistic lines as to automatically assume that Iran is evil, Iranians are evil, Iraq is a terrible country, Iraqi’s are evil, and damn, it’s great to be an American. I don’t think her line of thought in this article was as simplistic as “America sucks, Iraq is great!”

I’m continually amazed at how many people smugly consider this as some sort of illustration that the U.S is some wonderful bastion of human rights and these travelers are getting what they deserve. Why, even if something terrible happens to a person in a foreign country, would this all of a sudden prove the U.S was right to wage an awful, illegal, devastating war in Iraq?

And why do people assume that travelers who may experience something terrible in a foreign country will automatically detest that country and “realize” that the U.S is right, and all of “these people” be they the terrorists or “the Arabs” or whatever, are wrong?

I’m really fed up with such simplistic, dualistic thinking.

http://evaholland.com Eva

Amen!

tim

Having been stationed in Iraq and sharing with the people there, they are so grateful to the USA for the freedoms they are now experiencing. The common folks are not ashamed of the Americans but are beholden to them even though things are very far from perfect. No American should be ashamed either. War is aweful and lives are lost…precious lives…two friends of mine were killed there…American soldiers who I know personally would do it again even if it just gives some relief from the oppression. I am not for war but I am also not for people living without even the means to freely care for themselves and their families. The common folk in Iraq are happy to have someone standing up for them. Wake up people…it is not that simple to just say we should stay out of there. Sarah sould not be ashamed to be an American but should be happy that more people in Iraq now have more freedoms then they had just a few short years ago including those in Northern Iraq where she was visiting as evidenced by her even being able to be in Northern Iraq!

Bethany

Tim,
Thank you for your service.

late_stranger

I wasn’t under the impression that she was ashamed of being American… I interpreted that to mean she is ashamed of the war, but not of being American in general.

I am ashamed of many things the USA has done (actually, most of them fall under the category of ;has not done’), but I’m not ashamed to be an American.

MMK

“Are you suggesting that she would somehow regret having said that, or she would no longer feel ashamed about what the U.S has done in Iraq, because she is in trouble in Iran? Or that she’s suddenly proud or eager to be an American now that she’s run into trouble?”

(1) What’s being suggested is that Sarah isn’t really willing to stand up for her causes, fiance and friend with martyr feigning excuses about not attending the trial due to mom’s gallbladder surgery. With its postponement, let’s see what excuse she will come up with next to avoid trial. What’s also being suggested is the hypocrisy of Sarah in calling upon America to bail her out, and her quick abandonment of her ‘so called’ journey to nowhere.

“I’m continually amazed at how many people smugly consider this as some sort of illustration that the U.S is some wonderful bastion of human rights and these travelers are getting what they deserve. Why, even if something terrible happens to a person in a foreign country, would this all of a sudden prove the U.S was right to wage an awful, illegal, devastating war in Iraq?”

(2) As a former Muslim, Sarah should see her release as very lucky. She would have been killed otherwise. But then, Sarah knows that~ which is why she will repeatedly find excuses to avoid trial. Excuses assuage her guilt. Excuses are easier to accept than the truth, which is that she isn’t really willing to take a stand for her causes, fiance or friend. As for getting what they deserve, I don’t agree with that. The reality is that they are paying the unfortunate price of audacity.

“And why do people assume that travelers who may experience something terrible in a foreign country will automatically detest that country and “realize” that the U.S is right, and all of “these people” be they the terrorists or “the Arabs” or whatever, are wrong? I’m really fed up with such simplistic, dualistic thinking.”

(3) You foster the very simplistic dualistic thinking you detest with your projection of such a narrow-minded view.

http://www.ianmack.com Ian MacKenzie

A stunning read. It’s these stories that are so important, to humanize a region of the world that is grossly misrepresented by politicians and the media. It’s much harder to invade a country when it’s populated by human beings, rather than cardboard stereotypes.

Dan Simms

This kidnap victim apparently has a very anti-American disposition. Perhaps her leftist, pro Islamic writings will help get her released soon. My heart goes out to her family and I hope for her safe repatriation (maybe she will eventually appreciate her own country)..

http://evaholland.com Eva

Kidnap victim? Good to know you armed yourself with the basic facts of the situation before sharing your informed opinion. As Sarah said above, being against the Iraq War (or not even going that far, simply having empathy for the Iraqi civilians whose lives were violently disrupted by it) is NOT anti-American. Do you really feel nothing for the civilians killed in war? Or are you too busy being smug about the safe, peaceful country you live in?

Bethany

Criticism is important to the growth of this country, but bashing, especially while overseas, just makes me cringe. It’s not a perfect analogy, but it’s similar to parents disagreeing in front of their children…too much of it will just end up weakening the unit. I try my best to understand people and their motivations, but I hope she will eventually acknowledge how lucky she is to live in a country where people still risk their lives to be, and where what she says won’t land her in jail. I don’t think Dan is being smug, just thankful, and rightly so.

http://www.ianmack.com Ian MacKenzie

Bethany – thanks for weighing in, but I would hardly consider Sarah’s apology to the Iraqi family as “bashing” the US. I’m sure Sarah realizes every day she’s lucky to come from a “free” country, which is why she exercies that freedom by learning more about the world and sharing her perspectives with her fellow citizens back home.

Rami Saffarini

Sarah’s writing shows both humanity and humility. She is also a curious and daring person; which is probably why she is in trouble now. I hope that she is released soon and that she writes about her experiences from an even more informed point of view. As a Middle Eastern, I believe that people like Sarah are the best ambassador’s for the US in foreign land and the best positioned to inform Americans about the real Middle East.

Charles Reilly

I don’t believe that Ms. Shourd was stating any political views in her story other than reporting that this particular Iraqi family wasn’t enamored with the US military’s occupation of their country. Since she is now basically a prisoner of the Iranian government, Ms. Shourd should be afforded every consideration from the US State Department to secure her release (along with her companions). As everyone knows, Iran is a very volatile place at the moment, and Ms. Shourd and her fellow travelers may be in for a much longer and tougher journey than they originally planned. We can only wish them well.

inderjeet

Today 1st time in my life i know her as President of Iran said he will exchange her for its other prisoners.
I read her story about Iraq and her worlds that he feels sorry about Iraq that what his country done to Iraq.
At that moment i thought even after invading Iraq and all other things which happenign in Iraq. She is fre to walk on the street on Iraq and have nice meal and take picture and talk to people.
Does that feeling and hospitality is ther in Her country or any other country who has is in help to invade Iraq other countries.
I am in Europe but i can’t feel that freedom or friendly enviornment even there is nothing wrong done?
Don’t Know Why????

http://www.army.mil SFC Garcia

Well, nothing like cultural immersion programs! This one is kind of like a full ride scholarship. She can even get to learn Farsi! Discover the joy of Shia islam and so on. I’m sure the Iranian intelligence service got to read all of her articles by now. They must know that she felt deeply the pain of the palestinian oppression. They must know that she looked upon israel with abhorrence for its treatment of the poor palestinians.

She did all of the things that the lefties would advise us to do with US foreign policy. Then iranians took her, from within Iraq. They molested her, they taunt her, they beat her, they play games with her. It’s not about you Sarah. It’s about what you come from; it’s about the audacity with which you and the rest of us westerners live our lives. You represent an abomination to them, regardless of your thoughtful insight and first hand discoveries within middle eastern culture. You will always be the enemy.

Good luck. May God bless you and look after you.

goodman

SFC Garcia, you must be proud of being a comedian. your joke about cultural immersion etc. shows what a great human being you are. Of course your kind always signs off with “May God bless you and look after you”. How God is dear to arrogant, heartless and specially ignorant people is amazing. You use any opportunity to spill your sweetened poison. I have to say, your comment was a great piece of understated hateful expression. I am glad I don’t know you in this life.

MK

Sarah’s plight is sad, but so Darwinian.

http://yahoo.com Swampboy

IF ANY people WANT freedom let them fight for it themselves. From my viewpoint , there’s no reason to be sending Americans to Fight and Die for others who don’t , either understand or want , freedom .
We shouild have empathy for others , especially those who tempt the fates , but ….. should I send my child to Die for them ???
I spent my time in the military and benefitted from the experiences , and was wronged also , BUT , AMERICA is the BEST place I’ve ever been in .
Maybe we should be preparing for the ANARCHY and LAWLESSNESS that is coming here .. MY kids call me an ALARMIST , but look at us , and history …. and tell me I’m wrong . Swampboy .

robynne

its sad that sarah has been so misinformed all her life maybe now she will wake up and realize america is the greatest place on earth from that city in yemen us soldiers lost their life on the uss cole she might have eaten with a family that had us blood on their hands ms. shourd also wrote an article about the golan heights, what ms. shourd fails to realize is the fact that syria shot from the top of the golan heights down on to villages in Israel, killing children and adults too many times after 1967, when Israel took over the golan heights they were able to secure their border and have their towns live a little bit more peacefully so , ms shourd after you recuperate from your time away from the country you are so ashamed of ( america) you can return to any muslim country you wish including iran , there are many many people who would do anything to take your place and become an american citizen

Kel

So let me get this straight…this family had to escape to Yemen for fear that Saddam would kill them but she’s ashamed of her country because Iraqis are now choosing to kill each other?

I hope no taxpayer dollars were used for her release because I’m sure the cost for the negotiations is astronomical by itself. While I feel sad for her plight as a human, if she can’t stand behind her country, then why should her country stand behind her?

Paul Garvey

You need to learn to read between the lines a little more carefully. There is a HUGE difference between not agreeing with your government’s actions and not being proud to be an American. Seeing things as simply black and white just doesn’t come close to understanding.

In case you haven’t noticed, we have a Constitutional right to question the actions of our government. That is why we are able to state our opinion and not be afraid of repercussions. That is what freedom is all about. I have not been a proponent of this war, but I am still proud to call myself an American.

January Girl

What is wrong with seeing things for yourself and trying to connect with individual people as a way to understand their culture.
President Eisenhower started an organization called People to People International which is a cultural exchange program for students, teaching professionals, doctors, athletes, in the interest of allowing people from different cultures and countries to connect with eachother. How can peace develop when there is no dialogue or understanding between people? when our images of Muslim countries are only violent stereotypes or religious extremism or seen through the lens of wartime conflict. What if other countries only knew Americans through the behaviour of people at certain bars in Las Vegas on a 4 day weekend, or only through the pastor of the small backwards church that wanted to burn the Koran. I don’t think that anyone would disagree that these groups do not represent the vast majority of Americans. I appreciate Sara’s courageous efforts to share her observations with the rest of us. Though this is an unfortunate incident, I hope that it has brought to light diplomatic possibilities in this region. I pray for Iran’s return of her fiancee and friend.

MARIA

Look at how much work the American government has done to get her release. I wish they would leave her a$$ there and let her rots in h$ll. I’m proud to be an American. No place on earth is better than America.

My mama said “stupid is as stupid does”.

hctaylor

May all the American, Calif. semi-educated-do-gooders-children of confused hppie generation-drop-outs figure out that we in the west may sometimes need to be saved more than the natives of the middle-eastern countries they are trying to screw up their minds –
Thank you dear lord for victory in Korea, Nam, Panama and all the rest of our other justified military ego trips –

just wonderingg

heyy im just curious heree… is sarah shroud a muslim? and was she always or did she convert to islam??

hector hernandez

why does the media portray these three simply as “american hikers”??? They obviously were are more than that. They hate America and align themselves with some wacked out groups. Why not call them what they are “Anti-American activists/writers”. They should have been left in Iran and the US govt should not spend a dime in getting them out.

http://www.bravenewtraveler.com Ian MacKenzie

@hector – “They hate America and align themselves with some wacked out groups.” Curious where you found evidence of any of this? Passing judgement with little knowledge of the situation helps no one.

keltic poet

I started this thread with a simple rhetorical question about how Ms Shourd felt about being American while she was imprisoned for a year by Persians. I was amused at how provocative some found that post to be. Now that she’s free again, she may answer that question herself in this, the freest land on the planet. I noted today how carefully she speaks of her captors as she tries to get an audience to beg the diminutive Persian dictator for her friends’ freedom.
Her release begs the question who paid her half million USD ransom? Presidential Press Secretary Gibbs was been cryptic and scripted about the subject, referring press questions to State, who assiduously avoids the subject. Perhaps they feel one out of three is good enough.

James

What kind of a moron goes for a hike along the Iranian border and gets picked up by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards? What were she and her companions thinking? Now she’s been released as a political pawn while her boyfriend/fiance and another friend are going to be charged for spying against the state of Iran.

Well, today she gets to meet Ahmadinejad while he’s in NYC at the UN. This is the guy who said the US Government was behind 9/11 as well as claiming the Holocaust was a myth. Daily, they chant “Death to America”, “Death to Israel”. Meanwhile they supply arms to Hezbollah in Lebanon via Syria, and weapons to Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank. As well as supplying advanced shaped charges to be used against US/British armored vehicles in Iraq to devastating results. This is the guy who prays for the 12th Imam to make a return. If you compare the Bible’s book of Revelations to the Shiite Islamic end times prophesies, this 12th Imam sounds exactly like the Anti-Christ! Meanwhile, they are enriching uranium, have a Russian reactor going online any day now, and they keep jerking the IAEA inspectors around.

Miss Shourd, when are you going to open your eyes? When will the veil be lifted? Don’t you see that Ahmadinejad is the new HItler? You will be staring evil incarnate straight in the face, will you notice? What’s it going to take? Do you need to see your fiance publicly executed? Because that’s what happens to spies in Iran!

Ahmadinejad does not lie, he’s been very truthful in clearly communicating his motives and intentions. Hitler did the same as did Stalin. Al Qaida clearly stated they are at war with the US. The USA just laughed and ignored them until 3,000 civilians were killed on 9/11! The enemy is completely honest with us, while so many of us are in denial, blinded…

Islam is more then a religion it’s a political power at the same time. It’s a means to control the population and expand the empire. It is NOT A RELIGION OF PEACE! Peace in their eyes means full submission to Islam and Sharia Law. That means being conquered and subjugated and paying a heavy tax for being non-Islamic.

Read some history! Heck you were studying Arabic and likely read the Koran and Sura. Did you not see the hatred and violence directed against unbelievers? Does that sound like a religion of peace? Perhaps you never read the Bible and therefore cannot see the faults in the Islamic texts.

Ahmadinejad held a Bible and a Koran up one in each hand and said he believes both. This is a lie, Matthew 6:24 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Islamic history shows that the “People of the Book” were Jews and Christians and they were always heavily persecuted. When the Islamic holy warriors took a city, they would line up all the captured soldiers and behead them in the streets. Then they would take all the women and children and enslave them along with any civilian men. Then they would burn all the churches and synagogues to the ground. Next they would remove all rights from non-believers and tax them extra heavily. Any Islamic converts to Christianity or Judaism resulted in a death sentence.

F. Moradali

Hello dear ladies and gentelmen;
Recently, we have heard frequently about Ms. Sarah Shourd and her friends. As an Iranian I am so sorry for their arrest and now I am very glad that sarah is free. I dislike politics for such unpleasant events and such decisions made by officials and politicians. But, I really want to turn your mind to a annoying fact taking place for Iranian students. When these Americans were captured by Iran, a lot of people and organizations and governments condemned this ct and ask Iranian government to release them. While, there are a lot of Iranian students who have been banned for studying their favorite study fields. As an example, I applied for PhD program of Microbiology offered by a university in New Zealand and I get its admission. I have been so eager that I started the study of the subject of protein science supposed as my PhD thesis since I applied for visa. Unbelievably, after passing 17 months my application for visa is still in verification state and NewZealand Embassy in Tehran aware me that this is due to my study field, Microbiology. During this period my life has been negatively affected by this matter that more likely my application for NZ visa would be rejected. This so unfair and put a great pressure on my life and my future. This event is not exclusive to me but a lot of Iranian students suffer similarly. This is another facet of moving against human rights.
If there is any human right group to help and support me, please contact to fmoradali@excite.com.

keltic poet

Sarah Shourd has even stooped, for her, to FoxNews to preach the pathos of Americans seized and held by Iranians. The Iranians continue to blackmail us with the two American human shields, toying with them during our holidays, daring Hillary or Barack to demand unconditional release. But Sarah still cannot express unambivalent, unapologetic love of her homeland.
Still wondering how she and her friends feel about being American today.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Ari-Weisbrot/686353388 Ari Weisbrot

Average helicopter blades are about 16 feet off the ground. Most people could not get tangled in the blades if they were jumping on a trampoline. But, nevertheless, if you are exiting a helicopter, you tend to bend forward – – just in case. It’s an exaggerated sense of the survival instinct. Another example? If you find yourself hiking in the hills outside Iraq, take extra precautions not to “wander” into Iran. It would be hard for any American – – let alone a self-described “expert” in Middle East government – – not to know the consequences of “accidentally” entering Iranian territory. No rational thinking person actually believes Sarah Shourd was an American spy out to overthrow the Iranian regime. So why do most rational thinking people accept that she accidentally wandered into Iran while hiking in Iraq?
You know who really likes Iran? Syria. You know who really likes Syria? Sarah Shourd. Here are her musings about peace-loving Syrians who are being brutalized by Israel: http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=e276b8706a88aca9e3a98dbbd5526d1d
These poor Syrians; the Israelis invaded their Golan Heights, tore families apart, refused to acknowledge Syrian nationalist aspirations, and now keep peace-loving peoples separated by mine fields. (Sarah perhaps did not know that the mines were planted by the peace loving Syrians before they retreated from the Heights).
Perhaps Sarah also did not know that the peace loving Syrians used the Golan Heights to bombard Israel – – on an almost daily basis – – with rockets and missiles, killing scores of innocent women and children. Perhaps Sarah was unaware that Syria poisoned the streams leading to the Sea of Galilee in an effort to kill Jews. I am confident Sarah did not know that Israel conquered the Heights to stop the madness, and returned the vast territory based on Syria’s promise to stop the attacks. They lied, more Jews died, and Israel finally put a stop to it. None of these facts made it into Sarah’s blog.
She is not the first American to be used as a voice for arab propaganda. She is certainly not unique in her views. What makes the whole thing mildly entertaining is that her peace-loving Iranian friends kidnapped her and held her as a prisoner for over a year. These ingrates rewarded her blind loyalty by throwing her in jail. On balance it may seem unfair, but when you consider the treatment women receive in Iran, a year in prison is Club-Med. They did not stone her for her “crimes,” so perhaps they DID appreciate her efforts on the Persian-Syrian front.
Welcome home, Sarah. From now on, I suggest you remain on the beaten path.